Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has urged Nigerians to accord dignity and respect to petty traders.
Musa, who stated this while speaking in Abuja during an event for widows and wives of military personnel, said there is dignity in honest work regardless of the scale of the business.
Using his personal experience to encourage the beneficiaries, he revealed that his mother sustained their family through the sale of popular Nigerian staple, “akara and akamu”.
The minister said his mother’s determination to complement his father’s efforts through petty trading transformed the fortunes of their family.
He said the sacrifice laid the foundation for his rise to public office, adding that no honest means of livelihood should be looked down upon.
Recalling the criticism that followed First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s decision to provide financial support to akara sellers and other petty traders under her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), the minister said he was surprised by some of the reactions.
“A few weeks ago, the First Lady, the mother of the nation, contributed some amount for akara sellers and others, and I was surprised when I heard the responses from citizens,” he said.
“Standing here today as the Minister of Defence, my mother sold akamu. It is with that akamu that supported my mother to where I am today.”
Musa said he remains grateful for his mother’s sacrifices.
He noted that her willingness to engage in small scale trading helped shape his future.
“I am very proud that my mother supported my father by selling akara and akamu. Don’t let anybody make you feel that selling akara and akamu is below standard,” he added.
